Theatre · Creative writing · Community
I Come From
Original plays by incarcerated writers, brought to the stage.
A history of storytelling and collaboration with The Voices Inside, rooted in Kentucky.
An essential collaboration
The Voices Inside is at the heart of I Come From.
Since the first production in 2017, The Voices Inside has been integral to the programming and support of I Come From. The plays developed through its program are the foundation of the series, and its collaboration and support have helped sustain the work over the years.
Together, Antagonist Productions and The Voices Inside have brought these stories to public stages and audiences inside Kentucky prisons, connecting creative writing with live performance.
Robby Henson has supported I Come From and Antagonist Productions as a whole since the beginning. We’re grateful for his creative partnership and his commitment to the writers and artists behind this work.
I Come From: The Documentary
A Voices Inside production. Produced and directed by Robby Henson.
Program history · 2017–2025
From the page to the stage.
2017
The first I Come From featured nine plays developed through The Voices Inside. After a public production in Lexington, the show toured five Kentucky prisons.
2018
A second installment brought new plays to a larger public audience.
2018
Creative writing at EKCC. In collaboration with The Voices Inside, Antagonist Productions began creative-writing and improvisation classes at Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex. Participants developed spoken-word poems and short plays, exploring self-expression and communication.
2019–2022
Live presentations paused, while the program remained central to Antagonist Productions’ mission.
2023
The series returned with seven new plays and sold out the Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center in Lexington.
2024
I Come From IV brought another collection of plays developed through The Voices Inside to the Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center.
2024
Juvenile creative-writing program begins. Antagonist Productions began creative-writing and theatre programming at Fayette Regional Juvenile Detention Center, giving young people space to explore storytelling and self-expression.
2025
I Come From V, the fifth production in the series, was presented at Antagonist Productions in collaboration with The Voices Inside.
Youth creative-writing program
Creative writing in juvenile detention.
In 2024, Antagonist Productions began creative-writing and theatre programming at Fayette Regional Juvenile Detention Center, giving young people space to explore storytelling and self-expression.
Designed around original 10-minute plays, the curriculum brings together writing exercises, acting, and group discussion of identity, belonging, and resilience.
The 2025 production of I Come From V brought together work developed through The Voices Inside and Antagonist Productions’ Juvenile Creative Writing Program, sharing original short plays and spoken word with a public audience.
From the archive
Scenes, stories & shared moments.
Photographs and artwork from the I Come From series.
I Come From V · September 2025 · View 7 more production photos
View 10 more production photographs
View posters & program artwork
These materials document past productions. Performance dates, ticket details, and credits appear as originally printed.
In their words
What people have shared.
“Powerful. Insightful. Thought provoking. Humanizing. Needed.”
Audience feedback
Read audience & writer reflections
From audiences
“POWERFUL – INSIGHTFUL – THOUGHT PROVOKING – HUMANIZING – NEEDED”
"Very touching and I enjoyed the perspective of fear to gain freedom, because change is scary and the future is unknown, especially when there may be unknowns related to resources and support. “
“Really interesting to see so many stories/perspectives. So glad to see this kind of theatre/art exists. Thank you for sharing this.”
“Fantastic! Enlightening! Great experience overall.”
“I do not say any of this lightly. I go to a LOT of plays and I write plays and I have been involved in sound, etc. BLOWN AWAY by how great this was. I am blown away by all aspects of this show. The writing is tight. The characters are believable, and the story lines make me THINK. Great combination of serious themes, difficult emotion, and humor. The direction, transitions and acting were so SO well done. I am blown away.”
From writers
“This opportunity encourages us to learn about subjects that can benefit us not only while we are incarcerated, but when we rejoin society. Many of us only have what we have learned prior to prison, or in prison. So any opportunity to learn and grow is tremendously beneficial and appreciated!” — Denny
“Before this program, I was more likely to argue and engage in nonproductive behavior that quite possibly could have led to some very negative outcomes. Through this class, and its teachings, I have learned not only how to express myself, but also how to communicate my thoughts and ambitions well enough to other people, to the point where I no longer have to rely on anger and frustration.” — Derek
“How does one adequately ever thank another human being for basically making you whole again, and by extension, giving your life back to you?” — Rickie
“So thank you, for giving me something I didn’t even know I needed. This experience will forever be a part of my life.” — Stubby
Keep the conversation going
Support creative expression.
Help Antagonist Productions make space for storytelling and theatre in Kentucky. For program inquiries, possible collaborations, or ways to support I Come From, get in touch.